Senator Bob Menendez criticized President Biden’s administration over the possibility of reintroducing family detention for migrants crossing the southern border illegally.
Menendez, who appeared on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” expressed his concern that if the administration goes through with this, Biden will become known as the “Asylum Denier-in-Chief.”
Reports suggest that the administration is considering the policy to deter illegal immigration, but former Trump officials are skeptical of this approach. A Reuters report indicated that the Biden administration is evaluating several options to reduce the number of immigrants trying to enter the U.S. illegally.
One of these options is to revive the policy that enables authorities to detain families who have been ordered to leave the country. A U.S. official has stated that everything is on the table, implying that this option is being actively considered.
When asked about this, a White House spokesperson referred to press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre’s comments regarding the president’s plan to create a safe, orderly, and humane immigration system.
The administration’s approach aims to expand legal pathways for asylum seekers, limit illegal immigration, address root causes, and increase border security.
Senator Menendez believes that the reintroduction of family detention would be a step in the wrong direction, citing it as a failure in both the Obama and Trump administrations.
Instead, he advocates for a comprehensive plan that would enable officers to process legitimate claims for asylum more efficiently. Many individuals attempting to cross the U.S. border are fleeing from oppressive regimes.
In conclusion, Senator Menendez is critical of the Biden administration’s potential decision to reintroduce family detention as a deterrent to illegal immigration.
He believes that this approach has been ineffective in the past and argues for a more comprehensive plan to deal with the southern border crisis.
While the administration is exploring different options to reduce the number of illegal immigrants entering the country, it remains to be seen whether family detention will be part of this approach.
